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22 Mar 2010 : Column 113W—continued
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last three years. [316464]
Chris Bryant: The number of staff who had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last three years was 86 out of around 5,500 UK based civil servants (this figure includes staff in FCO services). Central records of sickness leave are kept only for UK-based civil servants within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. No central records of sickness leave are kept for locally engaged staff working overseas. Contacting all overseas posts to gather this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Egypt
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reason was for the visit of HM Ambassador in Egypt to the Egyptian Foreign Minister in Cairo in March 2003. [323270]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: On 23 March 2003, our ambassador in Cairo met the Egyptian Foreign Minister to hand over a letter from then Prime Minister, Tony Blair to President Mubarak. He also discussed UK military action in Iraq.
Ethiopia: Foreign Relations
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Ethiopia. [323369]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Ethiopia is one of the world's poorest countries, and a high priority for development. The UK's development programme aims to reduce poverty in Ethiopia, and to support progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Encouraging progress has been made in recent years. In financial year 2009-10, the Department for International Development has provided over £200 million. Working in partnership with the Ethiopian Government, this has been used to support humanitarian relief, help expand public services, support improvements in governance, and stimulate growth.
The development of an open, democratic political system is an important objective for UK work in Ethiopia. The British Government are working with all parties to address concerns around political space, with the aim that Ethiopian elections in May are as good as possible. The UK is concerned by aspects of the human rights situation in Ethiopia and we are working with a range of partners to address these.
The British and Ethiopian Governments collaborate on regional priorities including Sudan, all parts of Somalia, and on migration and counter-terrorism. Ethiopia is a key partner on international climate change work, and has provided an important African leadership role.
Homicide
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what services his Department provides for the families of British victims of homicides committed abroad. [323280]
Chris Bryant: We will not always know whether a specific death is due to homicide, but when a British national dies abroad, including in suspicious circumstances, when they are not already aware we will work with the UK police to inform their next of kin as soon as possible. Consular staff in London are then available to update the family on any new developments.
If the death is in suspicious circumstances we can suggest ways to raise concerns with the local authorities, offer basic information about the local police system and legal system and provide lists of local lawyers, interpreters and support groups. We will consider making appropriate representations to the local authorities if there are concerns that an investigation is not being carried out in line with local procedures or if there are justified complaints about discrimination against the person who has died or their family.
General information on how we can help families of British nationals who die abroad in suspicious circumstances is set out in our public guide "Support for British Nationals Abroad: A guide". We also publish "Guide for bereaved families" which offers more detailed information. All Foreign and Commonwealth Office publications are available on our website at:
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with his international counterparts on Iran's nuclear ambitions and capability. [323501]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions and capability is one of the UK's top foreign policy concerns, and others in the international community share this assessment. Iran must restore the international community's confidence in its nuclear programme. I discuss the issue with international counterparts regularly. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the importance of the dual track approach of engagement and pressure with Foreign Minister Yang, State Councillor Dai and Premier Wen in Beijing on 16 March.
Mexico
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the level of violence in Mexico; and how many British citizens are (a) in jail and (b) awaiting trial in Mexico. [323294]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) receives regular reporting from the British embassy on various topics including the security situation in Mexico. This reporting is based on information shared with US, EU and other partners, and from the Mexican authorities.
Even with the regrettably high levels of violence in some parts of Mexico, tackling the drugs cartels and organised crime there is vital. Most recently, Members of the House may have seen reporting in the press of a tragic incident killing three individuals related to the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez. I am sure you will join me in offering condolences to all those affected, in addition to the messages already given by our ambassador in Mexico and by our embassy in Washington.
The FCO Travel Advice is kept under constant review in light of new information, and on 18 March this was upgraded to advise against all but essential travel to Ciudad Juarez.
There are currently no British citizens in jail or awaiting trial in Mexico.
Nigeria: Politics and Government
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Nigeria on developments in that country since the beginning of January 2010. [323498]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed developments in Nigeria with the Nigerian Foreign Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe on 11 February. My noble Friend Baroness Kinnock, Minister for Africa, met Chief Maduekwe during the African Union Summit in Addis at the end of January and in London in February. Our High Commissioner and senior visitors from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also regularly discuss political developments with the Government of Nigeria.
Pakistan: Kidnapping
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Pakistan following the kidnap and release of a five year old British boy. [323500]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have had no such discussions. The operation to bring about Sahil's safe release has been an excellent example of close co-operation between UK and Pakistan law enforcement agencies. Our high commission in Islamabad have also kept in close touch with the Pakistan authorities.
Rwanda: Politics and Government
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Rwandan Government freedom of political expression for members of the Green Party and other political groups in that country. [323499]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our High Commission in Kigali remains in regular contact with the full spectrum of political opinion in Rwanda, meeting regularly with political parties from both Government and Opposition, including the Green Party. We have discussed the registration of new political parties and issues surrounding political space with the relevant Ministers in the Rwandan Government, and at ministerial level between Baroness Kinnock and Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo. We also continue to engage with the Rwandan National Election Commission over the practicalities of the forthcoming August 2010 presidential elections.
Western Sahara: Human Rights
Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UN Security Council has been briefed on the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara by the UN Secretary General's special envoy on Western Sahara. [322786]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Western Sahara regularly briefs the Security Council on developments in the conflict of Western Sahara, including the human rights situation. The current Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, last briefed the Security Council on 18 February. Mr. Ross holds regular discussions with members of the Security Council on a range of issues related to the conflict.
The Secretary-General will submit his report on the latest developments in Western Sahara to the Security Council in advance of the renewal of the UN Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate at the end of April.
Health
Abortion
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 51W, on abortion, on what date he expects to place in the Library a copy of the information requested. [323507]
Gillian Merron: The information requested was placed in the Library on 18 March 2010.
Children: Abuse
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources his Department provides for therapeutic services for children who have experienced abuse. [322872]
Phil Hope: We are committed to ensuring that children can access appropriate support when it is needed. Keeping Children and Young People in Mind: the Government's full response to the independent review of CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) sets out a clear model for effective local services, together with statutory guidance for primary care trusts and local authorities. A copy has already been placed in the Library. We will also continue to support Children's Trusts to deliver quality emotional and mental health services. An independent National Advisory Council is already holding Government to account on progress.
Community Care
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Sir David Nicholson on the merits of independent provider arms for community care. [314713]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets officials to discuss a number of issues.
Community Health Services
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the number of options available to NHS trusts under the Transforming Community Services programme has been reduced; and if he will make a statement. [322744]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The range of options available to primary care trusts for the future provision of their community services has not been reduced. In February 2010 the Department published Transforming Community Services: The assurance and approvals process for PCT-provided community service which set out a range of options for primary care trusts (PCTs) to consider. The guidance explained that there is no prescribed form(s) and that proposals will be judged on their merits through a nationally defined assurance process.
The guidance makes clear, however, that in relation to Community Foundation Trusts the Department expects relatively few proposals to be sufficiently developed to meet the assurance tests and be deliverable within the required timeframe. Similarly, the Department expects relatively few proposals for continued direct provision to meet the assurance requirements sufficiently, by demonstrating that they are partnered with strong commissioning and will not detract from the PCTs core role as a commissioner.
Transforming Community Services: The assurance and approvals process for PCT-provided community service has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
Dental Services: Chesterfield
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists were practising in Chesterfield constituency on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of them were accepting new NHS (a) adult and (b) child patients on that date. [323290]
Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested, however the number of dentists with national health service activity in Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT), which covers the Chesterfield constituency, for year ending 31 March 2009, was 364.
The number of adult patients seen by an NHS dentist in Derbyshire County PCT for the period 1 April-30 June 2009, was 268,162. The number of children seen for the same period was 98,386.
Note:
Patients seen are allocated to PCT via the dentist which they attend for treatment and not by the home postcode of the patient. Most patients will live within the PCT/strategic health authority in which they receive primary care dental services but some will attend a dentist further a field (near their place of employment, for example).
Source:
The Information Centre for health and social care.
Direct Payments
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in circumstances in which an individual lacks the capacity to choose to receive a direct payment for social care and that payment is made to a suitable person, who his Department deems to be the owner of the sum paid. [323355]
Phil Hope: The sum paid in the form of a direct payment is paid to the suitable person who will receive payment on behalf of the person who lacks capacity. The suitable person holds those monies in trust for the person lacking capacity. The person lacking capacity is the beneficiary.
The suitable person will be responsible for managing the direct payments and buy services to meet the needs of the individual. However, councils also have a duty to set up financial monitoring arrangements for audit purposes to ensure that the person's needs are being met and that the finances are properly managed.
Disabled: Social Security Benefits
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether people in receipt of attendance allowance or disability living allowance will receive the full social care entitlement under the Government's proposed reforms of the social care system. [307720]
Phil Hope: If disability benefits for older people are reformed as part of the National Care Service, those receiving the affected benefits at the time of reform would continue to receive the same level of cash support. We will give more details about the National Care Service offer in our White Paper later this year.
Food: Health Hazards
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the food industry on the effects of the provision of information on the (i) salt, (ii) sugar and (iii) fat content of foods on the ability of people to manage their (A) diabetes, (B) heart disease, (C) stroke, (D) obesity and (E) other chronic medical conditions; what recent representations he has received on those matters; and if he will make a statement. [323140]
Gillian Merron: The Department and Food Standards Agency (FSA) officials have regular and ongoing discussions with a wide range of stakeholders within the food industry about the provision of nutritional information for fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt both on front and back of pack.
Front of pack (FOP) labelling responds to United Kingdom consumer's desire for clear, simple, honest nutrition information and it is widely accepted that FOP labelling is a useful initiative which is valued by consumers in terms of making it easier to make healthier choices when shopping. Research and feedback from consumers has indicated that FOP labelling is often used by those with health and medical conditions such as those listed, to inform purchasing decisions.
The FSA has developed a framework to strengthen UK FOP arrangements and develop a mechanism by which a single effective approach to FOP labelling which assists consumers to make healthier choices can be delivered.
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